Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Limon-palooza

LIEMONBrian & Jen are sponsoring “Rob-a-palooza” this weekend as it appears Rob’s actually leaving us this time. Pul-leez RSVP for the palooza.

:Saturday 01/03/2009:
10AM: Regular pickup ultimate at the Polo fields
(Rob will NOT attend but we can talk about him)

4PM: Poker playing & football watching at the Brian & Jen's. Warning: Charlie’s mom will NOT likely be there so Rob will be looking to take a bunch of someone else’s money.
+ Crafts & other activities available for the kiddies
+ Veggie chili
+ Wine & some beer; pls bring a 6-pack if you can

:Sunday 01/04/2009:
Noon-ish: Disc golf @ seneCaREEK with Rob.

3PM-ish: Beer swillin' @ the Quarry House with Rob.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Have a Goop Day

A sludge pool party not worth attending...

Flood of sludge breaks TVA dike (12.23.08/Full Story):

Estimates for the amount of thick sludge that gushed from a Tennessee coal plant last week have tripled to more than a billion gallons, as cleanup crews try to remove the goop from homes and railroads and halt its oozing into an adjacent river.

The sludge, a byproduct of the ash from coal combustion, was contained at a retention site at the Tennessee Valley Authority's power plant in Kingston, about 40 miles east of Knoxville. The retention wall breached early Monday, sending the sludge downhill and damaging 15 homes. All the residents were evacuated, and three homes were deemed uninhabitable, according to the TVA.

TVA's initial estimate for the spill was 1.8 million cubic yards or more than 360 million gallons of sludge. By Friday, the estimate reached 5.4 million cubic yards or more than 1 billion gallons -- enough to fill 1,660 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Appalachian environmentalists compare
the mess to another spill eight years ago in eastern Kentucky, where the bottom of a coal sludge impoundment owned by Massey Energy broke into an abandoned underground mine, oozing more than 300 million gallons of coal waste into tributaries.


frzoop

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Best Of

bestofWith the last waning calendar days of two thousand and ei8ht, it’s time for a bit of reflection on the year that was. Based on reader enjoyment, here is 2008's ‘(Sorta)Best-Of’ listing – one SLOG posting from each month.

* January: RIP Kleenex

* February: It’s A Boy!

* March: Run for Prez

* April: Click & Pop

* May: Loo for 2

* June: Looking Long

* July: Media Relations

* August: Cowabunga

* September: Liquidity

* October: Home, Sweet hOBX

* November: Election Day

* December: Sludgeys 2008

Gots additional favorite postings? Have your say in the Comment section.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Procrastinators Rejoice

FREE Shipping* on any post on Ye SLOG. That's right! Any & All postings will be delivered to your designated recipient complimentary.

To take advantage of this seasonal deal ... CLICK the icon in the bottom right of your favorite post & send.

send
*The discount cannot be applied to prior fictious purchases & cannot be combined with other madeup promotions.

gholly

The Huck Before Christmas

The Huck Before Christmas
By Bill Cernansky 12/21/2000 with some minor edits

Gather 'round, children, so better to hear
A wondrous story of holiday cheer
Of Frisbees and reindeer and D.C. muck
And a mystical, magical, glorious huck.

'Twas late in December, and all of the rain
Made cutting on the soggy fields quite a pain.
Despite all of this, someone had the idear
To hold a disc tourney at that time of year.

"Come play in the mud at this year's Christmas Fest"
Said the e-mails, to some of the players' behest;
For not every disc player celebrates Yule:
To some, Hanukkah is the holiday rule.

So discussions ensued; a decision was made
That just one big disc tourney game would be played;
Christmas team versus Hanukkah - though it sounds odd,
With each having thirty-two players per squad.

The teams agreed to square off Christmas Eve;
(And the fourth day of Hanukkah - would you believe?)
In the future, the tourney then would get its name
From the team that would win this fortuitous game.

Christmas Eve morning arrived, cold and wet
And at 9 o'clock neither team had arrived yet;
So the team organizers were then forced to yield:
Finally, at 10:30, both teams took the field.

"Game to thirty-five" cried the organizing crew.
"Absolutely no time limit; must win by two."
Then they flipped the discs; Hanukkah would pull first,
And then each team would play the game it had rehearsed.

The game ran for hours; everyone got to play
With only a few arguments, by the way
But neither team could pull ahead more than one;
By 4 P.M. the tourney still wasn't done!

Game tied 50-50, with light fading fast,
The crew called out that "the next point will be last!"
And the Christmas team gathered up, each one believing
They'd surely score from the pull they'd be receiving.

Halfway down the field, in the mud and the grass,
Dived a player as they caught a horrible pass.
And as they gained footing to make their next throw,
Saw an open receiver and cried "Ho, Ho, Ho."

They heaved up a hammer, so long and so true
There's nothing that Hanukkah's defense could do.
What they didn't see, in the downpour and dark,
Were a sleigh and nine reindeer flying over the park.
rudy
The hammer, one of history's greatest throws
At just the last second glanced off Rudolph's nose!
It wavered, and wobbled, and blew in the breeze,
And was missed, as the receiver fell to her knees.

The shocked Christmas team, and all its adherents,
Immediately called out "that sleigh's interference!"
Meanwhile, the Hannukah folks had to insist
That it wasn't, because Santa didn't exist.

While both teams were arguing there in the park,
The crew called the game on account of the dark.
And though they were opponents, their call was the same:
"Whether Christmas or Hanukkah, 'twas sure a good game!"

##

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Frisamera

camdiskDrifting in from the "What D-vice hell?" department comes the Frisbee camera...

Yes, in case there [isn't anyone] around to impress with your acrobatic Frisbee tossing, now you can record all your amazing jumps and throws for playback on your cell phone.... And if you're thinking the footage from a spinning Frisbee would most likely give you vertigo, designer A. Sutcliffe is one step ahead of you: a fin on top of the disc attaches to a rod that pokes through the center axis, which in turn attaches to the camera [on the underside]. The upshot is the cam stays totally stable even if you give the Frisbee the ol' zig-zag chuck.

So many questions: can you hammer the Frisamera? are you limited to only catching the edge of the Discera? who would really buy a Camerbee?

Monday, December 22, 2008

Drop It Like It's Hot

Yeah! A drop everyone can enjoy...
baragain
on the versiony iApp you can play in any season &/or at the airport during inclement weather.

Where in the World?

Continuing "Where in the World" paying homage to the worldly mobility of Sludge.

Today's Feature: Chris.

Q: Where in the World is the CHairman?

A: Chris is in upstate New York.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

b-r-o-w-n

The SLOG & our sport already have songs, now Musik Therapy carries colorful lyrics...

BROWN (tune: "Bingo")
There is a color we all know.

Can you guess what it is?

B-r-o-w-n, b-r-o-w-n, b-r-o-w-n,

That’s how you spell brown.

Teddy bears and squirrels are brown.

Autumn leaves are too.

Chocolate candy’s always brown.

Chocolate cake is always brown.

Chocolate milk is always brown.

I like brown, don’t you?

Friday, December 19, 2008

Pass-on the Savings

wall-itThe SLOG has somehow avoided any economic woe$ - yeah!

The WhosTxon Examnr richly tips 3 ideas on : low cost weekend activities

1. Go to the park. No matter where you live in this vast expanse of a city, you can find one near you... You can let the little monsters run wild & scream as much as they want. The open spaces will carry the sound away, & the fresh air will help to rejuvenate you. We like to bring bubbles, a Frisbee, and a ball when we go. Most parks also have playgrounds where children can socialize and leave you to sit on the bench and enjoy the peace.

2. Go to the mall. National Mall for pickup!

3. Go to the Zoo.

Scripted History

abcdef
The yarn how Sludge got its name is better, but worth a looksee...
A Parking Lot Game Spread Around the World (Nov 26.08)
How Ultimate Frisbee Began 40 Years Ago

That parking lot in the New Jersey suburb of Maplewood is where the game of Ultimate Frisbee began and this year's game will mark the 40th anniversary of the sport. In a corner of the lot is a weathered metal plaque embedded in a rock that proclaims "Birth Place of Ultimate Frisbee Created by Columbia High School Students in 1968."

"I marvel at it sometimes," said movie producer Joel Silver, who is to Ultimate Frisbee what Abner Doubleday was to baseball. "It's kind of a shock that it's reached such proportions," Silver, better known for his "Matrix," "Lethal Weapon" and "Die Hard" series.

As a Columbia High School student in 1968 and a member of the school's student council, he won a vote, almost as a joke, to have the game declared a club sport. He and a couple of fellow students refined the rules from football's first-down rules to the fast paced free flowing game that has swarmed across hundreds of college campuses and around the world.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

SLUdGe

SLUdG The SLUDGE SLUG is a monster in Nickelodeon's new free online multi-player game titled Big Green Help (BGH).

DESCRIPTION: Covered in toxic grime and slime, this giant mutant leaves a trail of toxic waste everywhere it goes. As it, well "glorps" along, the Slime Slug destroys trees and greenspace!

GAME INFO: BGH is a basic 'aim-and-shoot' game that gets rid of environmentally harmful 'monsters' in order to clean up the environment. The entertainment value & challenge means older children and adults will enjoy it as well.

>W>A>R>N>I>N>G>BGH must be downloaded (68 MB) & installed on your desktop which then links back to Nick's servers for multi-player action.

Sludge Generation II may enjoy this game as it tests their parent's patience downloading a memory hog!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Shoe Review



Allow me to critique this extraordinary event (1:28):
The thrower, Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, has excellent follow-through on both throws but his inability to windup prevented the hammer throw to properly turnover.

The recipient, G.W., who was wide open, acts like he wasn't expecting the very catchable throw....twice.

The defender, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, makes a feable attempt (one hand?) of knocking down the 2nd throw.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Not Two Shabby

twwwoHappy Ann'y, SLOG!

Appears I got my wish as the SLOG survived another year! The very first post proves there’s always room for improvement so let's all hope for the best as the SLOG enters the terrible twwwo’s.
Thanks for visiting &, when necessary, reading!

:Reportable Site Stats:
  • Posts = 455 (103% increase)
  • Labels = 25 (92% increase)
  • Borrowed Images = Again, lots! (pls, don't litigate...pls!)
  • Visits = Yes (thanks mom!)
  • Visit Origins = 18 Countries
  • Broken Links = sure
  • LOLs = Several (hopefully)
~~~

Sludgeys 2008

appls
FOURTH Annual Sludgey Awards
Potomac ~ Sunday, December 14, 2008

This event moved on up (north) and became a full-on dark red-carpeted affair. Congrats to all winners awarded with yet another attractive award.

-->View 2007 History
-->View 2006 History

Andrew
Best Food Offering Award

Brian
Most Entertaining Point Award (off field)

Bucci
Best Fashion Award

C.G.H.
Best Captain Award

Chris
Most Offensive Award

Christy
Most Defensive Award

David
Best Pickup Artist Award

Gayle
Most Improved/Worsened Award

Griffin
Best Sludge Addition Award

Jen
Most Entertaining Point Award (on field)

Joe
Best Excuse for Missing a Game Award

Kelly
Best Golfer Award

M.J.
Best Spirit of the Game Award (on field)

Matthew
Best Reclamation Award

Meg
Biggest Traveler Award

Mike
Biggest Brown Movement Award

Michael
Best Spirit of the Game Award (off field)

Nigel
Best Inner Peace Award

Patti
Best Vampire Award

Rob
Bestest Story Award (fiction)

Russ
Best (D) Award

Best/Most Offensive Play (Group)
OBX card players’ ratification of the non-Nigel ‘Nigel Rule’

Best/Most Defensive Play on Defense (Group)
Sludge’s motivated comeback v. Red Scare.

#1 Fan Award
Rob’s parents

##

Friday, December 12, 2008

Parade of Food

PrexyPer Tip #3: ... decide ahead of time what you’re going to indulge in ...

> Gayle: spicy/savory yam dish & wine.
> Andrew: pumpkin pie.
> Joe: butternut squash turnovers.
> Matthew: vegan chili.
> Rob: meat dish of some kind.
> Fishpez: Simple carb dish, something sweet, bread & beer.
> Chris: something dessert-like.
> Emjay: something chocolate (dessert).

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Wait Gain

pholeUnless you’re a squirrel or a maned wolf, you probably are not looking to gain weight, so gobble up these tips before the BBM.

Nine Tricks to Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain:

1. Make a plan...for your exercise and eating strategies

2. Have a little: portion control

3. Pick your battles: decide ahead of time what you’re going to indulge in

4. Keep moving, even 10 minutes a day

5. Take control of your environment. Stop the parade of food into your mouth:
• Never engage in conversation while standing next to the buffet table.
• Wear snug clothing. Feeling that pull at your waist will serve as a reminder that you should slow down or take a walk.
• Chew on sugarless gum to prevent you from going back to the buffet line for second helpings.


6. Prepare in advance: Don’t go to a party hungry.

7. Don’t graze: Noshing is the same as mindless eating.

8. Stick to your drink limit.

9. Get back on that horse: Decide that the holidays are over & it’s time to get back on track.

Blagojeviched

ttcIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness ... it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us ... we were all going direct the other way.
--
Charles John Huffam Dickens

The Awards Committee met last nite at an undisclosed cat-haired bunker to hash out the gobs of received nominations. Lotsa laffs, some infighting, and but no schemey scandals.

Remember: Sunday's BBM is in Potomac (city), not Georgetown (neighborhood).

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Forty...zzzzz

robcandleFive hours later, Rob completes the final blowout of forty-something candles in each of his individual toasted fig brûlés at RTuesday's soirée. Fun had by most!

Sing-aLong

A less-than-ultimate song saved by semi-ultimate footage (1:28) about a sport 'much better than regular frisbee.'

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Eau de Sludge

As reported in multiple sources:
BERWICK, Pa. (AP) - Fans of Jen's alma mater Penn State can smell like the school for just $60. The Fragrance developer says it has made a perfume and a cologne inspired by PSU's blue & white colors and its campus vegetation.

Further, a fume per Sludge is in the works which will smell of OBX sand, Potomac chlorine and Anacostia Park patchouli. The cologne smells of yellow cake and crack chips. El Cap says the 3.4-ounce bottles of fragrance should appeal to Sludge's vast fanbase.

You're Invited to BBM

stdWHAT: Sludge BBM (banquet, ball, meal)

TIME: 4pm arrival; 5:30pm dinner; 6pm awards

WHEN: Sunday, December 14, 2008

WHERE: Potomac

WHY: Tradition

ATTIRE: Comfy Blacktie Informal

Monday, December 08, 2008

LES is More

gbocafe If you find yourself in NYC's L.E.S. (LowerEastSide), consider this brunch/lunch/dinner eatery tucked away at 61 hester st. nyc 10002.

brown café (LowErcaSe) "focuses on organically grown local produce, free range meats, and fish from conscientious purveyors..."

browNYC

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Pixel Printing

Following the ilks of other accessible & budget-conscious rags - Christian Science Monitor, PC Magazine, InfoWorld, Business 2.0, House & Garden, Jane and Stuff - the SLOG is discontinuing its print component.

The online version is, as always, available 24/7 for reading (&/or printing).

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Olympic

ligUltimate was not part of the sports vying for a spot into the 2016 Olympics:

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Baseball made its pitch for reinstatement in the Olympics on Friday, one the seven sports fighting for two spots on the program for the 2016 Summer Games.

Softball, golf, karate, rugby, roller sports and squash also made hour-long, closed-door presentations to the IOC program commission.


Disc (capital G) Golf begs for acceptance via the Olympic Disc Golf online petition with compelling arguments:
>The sport has grown like a weed in the past 10 years.
> Disc golf is a game of focus, skill, exercise & it is fit for all ages.
> Disc Golf has its own app via iTunes, dude.

Defend the Pass-age Lanes

dfgelSinus congestion begs for your face to have more offense (be more productive); now there's a defensive block that invades personal space & gets up all in ya.

Chloraseptic Allergen Block
> Blocks allergens on contact before they enter your nose.
> Safe to use with regular allergy medicine for added protection
> Good for up to 150 applications
> Recommended for 3 yrs+


Unlike PICKUP...Will Not Cause Dry Mouth, Will Not Cause Drowsiness, No Known Side Effects, Drug Free.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Drumming Up

drumbEXTENDED DEADLINE!!!

Submit a Sludgey Nomination
today.
tomorrow.
the next day after.
p l e a s e.

Submit a Sludgey Nomination by December 11th.

Get Your App in Gear

dgoof Just in time for the Holidays...for iPod/Phone users:

Glide through the only mobile Frisbee Golf experience on the planet! Curve around trees, over water, & past sand traps to land your disc in the basket.

What's new: Throw power is now displayed when your throw is complete. This lets you better judge how hard to throw the disc.
Price: $9.99

Monday, December 01, 2008

Wild Food Chain

Finally! A use for all those cheap, non-regulated, plastic discs.

WFMY News [Greensboro] Vid (1:25 w/ad):
Screen Shots from Vid...

Here Wofie, Wolfie...hunt down your smelly smelt on a purple saucer -- just like in nature.

Maned Wolf with a 2-pawed knockdown!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

THINKs Giving

ibm
THINK about all those nominations your are gonna GIVE...

-->Submit a Sludgey Nomination Today /or/ Tomorrow, but not after December 3rd 11th.

THANKS in advance!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Stick-y Situation

mopThe Rochester, NY-based M.o.P. announced its National Toy Hall of Fame in an early November Press Release(PDF):

...one very unconventional “plaything” - the Stick! - has now taken its honored place in the hall. Found in all sizes in nature, sticks inspire spontaneous, unstructured play and can be used in unendingly imaginative ways—to draw in the sand on a beach, or to use as a magic wand, slingshot, light saber, fishing rod, or walking stick; not to mention playing stickball, toasting marshmallows, or playing “fetch” with your dog.

Sticks are the original construction toys: children make toy buildings out of sticks and design toy boats with leaves for sails. Many an adult has picked up a driftwood souvenir from the beach, and artists and crafters use sticks in wreaths, chairs, and sculptures. The stick now keeps proud company with another untraditional “toy”—the Cardboard Box—inducted into the hall in 2005. After all, the best toy is often a plaything that’s free, easy to get, and a source of endless creativity.


I sure do wish Frisbees grew on trees!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A Safe Winter Run

brownstepzDispensing January advice in November... Roll out this brown carpet over ice & snow for a slip-free walking surface.

Ice/Snow Carpets

Details: Natural-fiber "runner" is safer to use than salt, and it doesn't take forever to work, especially in very low teperatures! Runner is treated with latex rubber to securely grip ice, snow, and any other wet walking surface. Roll it down over icy steps too. Reusable; just roll it up. You get two, each 10' long, 18" wide.

Price: $19.99

Monday, November 24, 2008

Open Up

Feel like you haven't been opening your hand as quickly as you used to? Get a grip with...Xtensor Hand Strength Device

:Description:
Winner of the 2007 Medical Design Excellence Award, this clever little device exercises the muscles that you use to...get this...open your hand - evening out muscle development and improving dexterity & performance.

Features:
>Working the muscles most other strengthening devices ignore, this works the Extensor arm muscles .
> Avoid the jerky motions of most hand exercises - smooth motion protects you from additional injury.
> Effective against a wide range of hand injuries, including carpal tunnel, reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, tennis elbow, tendinitis, & more.

Price: $38.95

Friday, November 21, 2008

Winter Pickup 08

w.hatSaturday morning pickup began last Saturday & joyously continues with your attendance.

Where: At (1)Polo Fields
(2) FDR outfields, or
(3) Washington Monument grounds

When: 10:00 am

Prepare to de-layer.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Where in the World?

globeContinuing "Where in the World" paying homage to the worldly mobility of Sludge.

Today's Feature: Joe.

Q: Where in the World is Joe?

A: Joe is in San Fran.

Today's Feature: MicHael.

Q: Where in the World is MicHael?

A: MicHael is also in San Fran.

sFRan

Second DEByoUTube

Like Liz's first vid, speakers to be turned WAY UP for this song 'Yell Fire' (4:52):



But the Revolution has just begun...

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Hotel California

You can check out any time you like,
but you can never leave... -The Eagles (playing in DC on 11/20)

As many of you know, Rob plans to depart DC for the Left Coast - a return to his golden state. He will be pursuing a life-long dream partnership with R. Simmons as they will be Sweatin' to the Oldies.

Linked In

REI continues to link itself to the frisbee community with another disc-y product:
Mini Frisbee Golf Set

> Includes 3-ft (37 inch) tall goal, 6 discs, set-up instructions & game rules.

> Miniature goal can be moved easily to challenge their skills as they grow.
> Recommended for ages five and up

Price:
$25

Monday, November 17, 2008

Frisbreead

Make some dough during this economic downturn: The Armenian bread, dubbed the Frisbee bread, is a recipe for special occasions. [source: Recipe]

:Ingredients:
1 package dry active yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2¼ cups lukewarm water (110°F to 115°F)
6 cups all-purpose flour
¼ pound unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons white sesame seeds

:How To Cook:
1. Sprinkle the yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar into ¼ cup of the lukewarm water in a small, shallow bowl. Let it stand 2 or 3 minutes, then stir to dissolve the yeast completely.

2. Set the bowl aside in a warm, draft-free spot (such as an unlighted oven) for about 5 to 10minutes, or until the mixture almost doubles in volume.

3. Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Pour in the yeast mixture, remaining water, melted butter, remaining sugar and salt.

4. With a large spoon, beat the flour into the liquid ingredients, continuing to beat for as long as 10 minutes, or until a soft, spongy dough is formed. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and set aside in the warm, draft free spot until the mixture doubles in volume.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and divide it into 10 equal parts. Roll out each part as thinly as possible into circles, then place 2 or 3 circles on a cookie sheet.

6. Sprinkle lightly with cold water and a few sesame seeds and set the cookie sheet on the floor of the oven. Bake about 20 minutes, or until the bread is a pale golden brown.

7. Transfer the breads with a wide spatula to a wire cake rack and bake the remaining rounds similarly. The bread will keep several days at room temperature if wrapped securely in foil.

Yield: 10 large rounds

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Where in the World?

Continuing "Where in the World" paying homage to the worldly mobility of Sludge.

Today's Feature: MJ.

Q: Where in the World is MJ?

A: MJ is in Jamaica...without a frisbee.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

In Debted

Andrew put on his green eye-shade again to crunch the numbers on what Sludge crunched, munched & drunk @ OBX.

2008: $929.00 vs. 2007: $1,075.34
==>a 16% decrease in expenditures matching the deflation of the US dollar.

Please do the following: 1. check your expenditures & let him know if they $ound about right or not.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Flying Circle Day

A marketable blue plastic ring is used as a worldly symbol today & today only.

Today, Nov 14th, is World Diabetes Day. The WDD logo is the blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes which signifies the unity of the global diabetic ketoacidosis community in response to the diabetes pandemic. Across cultures, the circle symbolizes life and health & the colour blue reflects the sky that unites all nations.

The flying circle - a Frisbee aerobie in the shape of the blue diabetes circle is scheduled to be caught up in celebrations. If you're partial to brown, then you're better off with this aerobieness sundrie.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Call for Noms 08

As alluring as a good sham, I am proud to announce the Call for Nominations - SLUDGEYS 2008.

Your nominations/anecdotes/fabrications within calendar year two thousand and eight will gladly be accepted so the Awards Committee won't have to in the likely areas:

Biggest Best Brown Movement Award
Criteria: No criterion. Go with your gut.

Best/Most Offensive Play on Offense (Individual)
Criteria: Scoring is a big part of offense, but that’s not the only criterion for receipt of this award. In any particular game or period of a game, did someone exhibit mad throwing skills? Or incredible catching talent?? Or great cutting proficiencies? Overall common sense on offense?

Best/Most Offensive Play on Offense (Group)
Criteria: Which Sludge group play best put up the numbers en route to Sludge’s total score in a particularly impressive game?

Best/Most Defensive Play on Defense (Individual)
Criteria: “Our best defense is a good offense,” does not justify America’s military, so that pre-emptive crap doesn’t have a place here. The best play by an individual, which was most responsible for Sludge’s defensive success in a particular game.

Best/Most Defensive Play on Defense (Group)
Criteria: The best group play that was most responsible for keeping the opponent from scoring.

Most Entertaining Point/Moment (on the field or sidelines)
Criteria: A moment or point, in or near the game, that resulted in laughing, crying, blushing, delirium, and/or throwing up.

Spirit of the Game Award (on the field)
Criteria: By the book, “Ultimate has traditionally relied upon a spirit of sportsmanship.… In Ultimate, the honor system works…” blah, blah, blah.

Best Spirit of the Game Award (off the field)
Criteria: Karma; following the Golden Rule; by the Law, not getting arrested.

Best World Peace Award
Criteria: Best moment of someone walking away when they really wanted to punch the opponent.

Most Improved/Worsened Award
Criteria: Did someone nicely recover from an injury? Basically, did someone smartly slow down the worsening process?

Best Fashion Award (on the field)
Criteria: Best fashion statement that displayed stunning presentation, style, attitude, and wonderful overall appearance to supplement the standard issue brown t-shirt. Otherwise known as the Chris ‘wolfie’ Wolfson Award in honor of C’w’W’s wolf winter hat.

Best Food Offering Award
Criteria: Best edible offering based on taste, creativity, and appearance at either a game, Sludgefest, OBX, or pickup. Otherwise known as the ‘Bruce’ Award in honor of his delicious oatmeal cookies.

Best Story About ‘the Bestest’ Play Award (Fiction)
Criteria: Awarded to the author of the best work of fiction about ultimate, injury, family or whatever.

Best Excuse for Missing a Game Award (Fiction or Non-fiction)
Criteria: Quality of research and writing are major considerations in the judging of this award, as are insight and originality.

#1 Fan Award
Criteria: Any one, any one, at all that attends Sludge game(s) without stealing playing time from us. Cheering is not necessarily required.

Best Sludge Addition Award
Criteria: Open to purchases, offspring, significant others &/or pickups added in the year 2008.

Best Captain Award
Criteria: Best bearded person with the initials CH who reminds us that following is a lot easier than leading.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Tournament: 11.09.08

Sunday’s continuation of the fall 2008 postseason began without a deliberate haste. After a full season of afternoon games, this early morning game (9:15am EST) took some adjusting to. Plus, there was a heavy burden that today was Rob’s last brown game(s) before heading westward. Even the usual Anacostia Park wind was too emotional to make an appearance.

Beyond savage, Bucci played in a Keen-Cleat-combo bcs her left cleat was no where to be found (like niCH). MJ, in one-of-the-same-kind cleats, played with sushi-tight wraps on both ankles to honor Rob.

The still-in-play crew put up a fight in the first half with an embattled zone D which was diced, sliced and criss-crossed like a carved pumpkin. Fortunately, brown’s repetitive scoring kept the game buoyant all the way to 7-8.

After halftime, Sludge switched their brawn to a more defensive person D, however the favorable matchups kept going the way of absinTHEM. Where their D didn’t allow much daylight, Sludge’s standard offense didn’t hold water except for the multiple Matthew-huck-to-Nigel-long connections.

Sludge played hard but not hardly well enough to keep playing the rest of the day. The time cap struck with Sludge down & out 10-14.

Excitatory Msg

When other teams do pre-game drills, I'm skeptically intimidated. If, if, if I see an opponent swinging into a "Scorpion" [pictured], then automatically award them a gold medal.

Stretching: The Truth (NYTimes 10.31.08)
The old presumption that holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds — known as static stretching — primes muscles for a workout is dead wrong. It actually weakens them.

Other studies have found that [static] stretching decreases muscle strength by as much as 30%. Also, stretching one leg’s muscles can reduce strength in the other leg as well, probably because the central nervous system rebels against the movements.

The right warm-up should do two things: loosen muscles and tendons to increase the range of motion of various joints, and literally warm up the body.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Chin Up, Goggles On, Don't Cry

The tears are not due to Sludge's 21st season finale...I swear! stop looking at me....please. Quit it!

Cut onions produce the chemical irritant known as syn-propanethial-S-oxide which stimulates the eyes' lachrymal glands so they release tears. But you can mask your tears either by wearing gOnionggles(R) or by perfecting your caramelized-onion technique:

The look you want is a glossy, honey-brown; the onions will be slightly sticky. You can get a deeper brown color if you have time to cook them longer.

How do you keep from crying when you cut into them? The National Onion Association says to chill onions at least 30 minutes before cutting, & use a sharp, straight-edge knife to avoid damaging the cells of the onion. Finally, cut the root end of the onion last, as it generally has the highest concentration of tear-producing compounds.

Friday, November 07, 2008

Where in the World?

Continuing "Where in the World" paying homage to the worldly mobility of Sludge.

Today's Feature: Jen & Brian.

Q: Where in the World are Jen & Brian?

A: Jen & Brian are in Atlanta.